Armchair Economist

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Barry L. Cross

Do these comments sound familiar? We would love to be more innovative, but we don't have the resources Innovation works in some companies; we just aren't that creative We get some good ideas, but nothing ever happens with them Unfortunately, they reflect the general perception and environment for innovation in many firms today. In Lean Innovation: Understanding What's Next in Today's Economy, Barry Cross explores how to use Lean to free up resources from within the organization to support and 'fund' innovation and inspire a culture of creativity. Easy to read and humorous, Cross' stories reson.

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Robert E. Wright

Robert E. Wright not only identifies the problems of our current economic conundrum but also proposes new, intriguing solutions. His entertaining and enlightening ideas take a fresh approach to public policy by finding fault with both the market and the government, and on both sides of the aisle. According to Wright, the only way to fix our FUBAR (Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition) world is to approach its problems head-on, using both sides of our brains and checking politically correct thought at the curb.--[book jacket]

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Atle Seierstad and Knut Sydsæter

This book serves not only as an introduction, but also as an advanced text and reference source in the field of deterministic optimal control systems governed by ordinary differential equations. It also includes an introduction to the classical calculus of variations. An important feature of the book is the inclusion of a large number of examples, in which the theory is applied to a wide variety of economics problems. The presentation of simple models helps illuminate pertinent qualitative and analytic points, useful when confronted with a more complex reality. These models cover: economic growth in both open and closed economies, exploitation of (non- ) renewable resources, pollution control, behaviour of firms, and differential games. A great emphasis on precision pervades the book, setting it apart from the bulk of literature in this area. The rigorous techniques presented should help the reader avoid errors which often recur in the application of control theory within economics.

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James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner

"The first true revision of the classic book from the bestselling author of The Leadership Challenge As the world falls deeper into economic downturns and warfare, the question of credibility (how leaders gain and lose it) is more important than ever. Building on their research from The Leadership Challenge, James Kouzes and Barry Posner explore in Credibility why leadership is above all a relationship, with credibility as the cornerstone, and why leaders must "Say what you mean and mean what you say." This first full revision of the book since its initial publication in 1993 features new case studies from around the world, fully updated data and research, and a streamlined format. Written by the premier leadership experts working today, Credibility: Reveals the six key disciplines that strengthen a leader's capacity for developing and sustaining credibility. Provides rich examples of real managers in action Includes updates to?the applications?and research This personal, inspiring, and genuine guide helps you understand the fundamental importance of credibility for building personal and organizational success"--Provided by publisher.